Puzzled about interpreting sworn testimony in US courts

[wushucrab20]

I recently began preparation for becoming a court certified interpreter in the USA and one of the phrases I have had limited success translating is the question asked by the judge prior to someone making an oath in court. The only translated forms I have come across while searching are:

 

1. Do you swear to tell the truth the whole truth and nothing but the truth so help you God?

 你是否承诺所作证供乃指着神而说的实话，全部属实，只有实话？ 

 

2. Do you solemnly swear that the evidence you shall give in this court shall be the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth,so help you God.

 

你要郑重宣誓，你在本法庭提供的证词将是实情，全部实情，除实情以外别无他物，上帝保佑你。

 

Of the two, I think the first one is definitely better, but I'm not exactly how to make it more accurate. My translation of the second English version is: 你是否郑重宣誓在本法庭所作证将属实，全部属实，除实情外别无他物，否则单有神能可保你/任神像你做出处罚。I know there are probably still some issues with this, and I'm not sure about the last part. Any suggestions or feedback are welcome. Thanks!

 

Edit: I guess its more of a problem interpreting the phrases and questions used when taking an oath as opposed to the testimony itself.

[tooironic]

For "so help me/you God" consider: 我／你敢斷言，千真萬確.

[889]

No! The swearing before God is essential to that particular form of the oath. If it's in the original, it must be in the translation. For those who do not want to take an oath before God on religious or other grounds, there are different forms of oath that don't include the deity. But the translator cannot simply eliminate God from the oath sua sponte. He must be aware of the significance of the different forms of the oath.

[wushucrab20]

I just wanted to add that I am asking this question simply in preparation for a test, I won't be using whatever help I get here for actual court interpretation. If I work as a court interpreter in the future I would run a question like this by a professional court interpreter first.

[889]

In that case, the general advice is to stick as close as possible to a word-for-word translation.

 

Look at your first example, where 承诺 "promise" is far weaker than swear and there's no mention of 所作证供 in the original.

[tooironic]

889, you raise a valid point. Perhaps you could offer your translation of the oath?

[dwq]

否则单有神能可保你/任神像你做出处罚。

Some think like you do, but I think Glenn's explanation in the first link below makes more sense:

 

“so help me God” = “may God help me do these things”

“so help you God” = “may God help you do these things”

http://www.waywordradio.org/discussion/topics/so-help-you-god/

http://forum.wordreference.com/showthread.php?t=569267

[889]

Sorry, it's up to the OP to pass the test, not me.

[wushucrab20]

@dwq-  Thank you that makes sense too, I guess I never thought of it that way before. In that case I suppose 上帝保佑你，may be actually be the most appropriate translation.

 

I also want to add that none of the things I have mentioned above, quoted, or translated reflect in any way my own religious/spiritual beliefs. I did not intend to make that a part of the discussion. I am just trying to objectively interpret the content as accurately as possible.

[Lu]

Isn't there a fairly standard translation for that phrase? Chinese is not exactly a small language in the US, and this phrase would be used every time a Chinese-speaking person appears in court, wouldn't it? If you want to be sure, you should contact someone who is currently a court interpreter. They should have this memorised so well they can translate it in their sleep.

[skylee]

Consider using 並無虛言. If you search 全部屬實，並無虛言 with gov.hk , you could find some standard phrases used in HK for oath, I think.

[wushucrab20]

Thank you everyone for the suggestions. I will reach out to a professional court interpreter to find out what their advice is just to make sure.